A BBC investigation has found that more than 52,000 patients waited longer than 24 hours to be admitted to hospitals across north-west England last year.
This practice, known as 'corridor care', has been described as a 'national emergency' by the Royal College of Nursing, which has called on the government to end it.
NHS England stated that the NHS is currently experiencing its busiest winter on record, with hospitals around the country facing rising demand.
Police and Authority Response
Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical director for NHS England in the North West, said: 'Providing care in corridors is not what we want for our patients, and we are working hard to reduce the use of corridor care and tackle long waits.'
The Royal College of Nursing has been campaigning on the issue for several years, with Simon Browes, the college's North West regional director, stating that staff are facing huge pressure and that patients are being treated in corridors due to a lack of beds.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that 6,893 patients waited longer than 48 hours, and 12,458 patients waited longer than 24 hours in the warmer months between May and August.
The data showed big variations between hospitals, with Whiston, Royal Blackburn, Royal Preston, and Arrowe Park particularly struggling with long waits.
Causes and Consequences
The crisis in social care provision and community health provision are major factors contributing to the current situation, with older, more frail patients trapped in hospital beds for days or even weeks.
Simon Browes warned that the situation demands immediate action, stating that the nursing profession is already seeing a significant drop in applications and high attrition rates.
Government Response
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said that the government will end corridor care by the end of the current parliament in 2029, but Simon Browes argued that immediate action is needed to address the crisis.
